It's an odd feeling, this entire situation is odd to start, but to find comfort in the presence of someone he does not regard as a friend, let alone ally. Though, he supposes it has been some time since he's had more than mere enemies, so this is just as well. It does take him a moment to start walking, first turning to head off, but stopping a moment to squeeze his eyes shut. His hand rising to rub at his eyes with his thumb and forefinger.
Perhaps he stood too quickly. Perhaps standing at all after such an emotional ride, while being decently inebriated, was a mistake. Regardless, after a moment or two, he lowers his hand, shakes his head, and presses on. There isn't much to say as they walk, not that it'd be easy to regardless seeing as signing while walking certainly seems like a waste of time.
Idly, he wonders Tyler's thoughts regarding him over such a display. After what he told him, but his mind is easily enough sidetracked from such pondering. Particularly when he has to focus on things like walking and balance. Both of which he's doing fairly well with, despite his state of being. Regardless, it's rather easy to let one's mind wander.
He just looks utterly distracted as they walk and tired. The usual heavy slouch to his walk seems worse somehow. It probably is.
He's almost glad he's coming along, with how Solus seems to be forcing dedicated effort into not falling over, and it leaves him looking distracted and exhausted. Well he was probably the latter anyway but Tyler sure as shit didn't help with any of it.
He's still not quite sure what to make of it all. It's certainly not enough to swing the tide over to liking him, but with such a dedicated impression Solus had been wanting to leave earlier, he's fairly certain that now - knowing all of this, hearing his grief, and yet not feeling that fundamental shift of perspective, like how he did when he learned Solus was tempered - he's pretty sure that's not going to change. Now or ever.
Tyler doesn't think less of him, seeing him at his lowest. Probably Solus would enjoy the irony of it somewhere along the line.
If Solus chooses to stop, Tyler will pause as well - in case the man goes and vomits or something. But he's ultimately just here to guard, not lead.
In fact, he does stop. Though, not the puke, thankfully. He can hold his alcohol a bit better than that, though this is admittedly the first he's had of Persim berry weed. Probably not the best combination for a first time, but it's fine. He's fine. It's certainly a great deal into why he even said as much as he did. Why he could not contain his grief that he's otherwise locked down tight and ignored. One more onerous facet to his ever tiresome existence.
Slowly, he turns to look at Tyler, his eyes squinting a little as he seems to be examining him for a moment. Or, perhaps he looks conflicted, honestly it's hard to tell what he's feeling or thinking. But the weird moment doesn't last overly long, before he signs.
I believe it goes without saying I would be most appreciative if this stayed between us.
It will be bad enough dealing with whatever Steven makes of the information he shared, after all. Not that he thinks Tyler is one to go around and gossip without reason, but...
I know well you have no loyalty to me, and little do I expect it. So, I suppose I am asking this as a favor—man to man—without pretense or aught of the sort. A mere bid for decency.
Because he cannot expect any from Steven, he hopes that he can except the barest minimum from Tyler.
There's a vague look of concern on Tyler's face when Solus does stop, and turn very slowly to look at him, and he's starting to wonder if he should take a step back from under such a weird stare, until Solus finally signs at him.
It takes him a few long seconds to think of how to reply to it, honestly.
You're right. I don't. He gives a sort of resigned little quirk of a smile. But I don't have any reason to hurt you with it, either. I'm not going to tell anyone, and I wasn't planning on it to begin with.
Though he can begrudgingly understand why Solus would think so, given... well, everything.
There's a strangely candid look of relief and gratitude that displays on his face at that answer. He doesn't...fully believe him, he can't allow himself to be so naive when it concerns mortals, but there's a good portion of him that wants to, and in a sense does. The expression itself looks genuine, at the very least.
You're a good man.
That, at least, he does mean. He turns to continue on the path once more, but then he jolts like a thought just struck him, and he turns to look at Tyler again.
Ah, I realized you mentioned going back to work, though that is scarce my destination. It most assuredly is along the way, however. If you must needs depart once we arrive, it will not be remiss of you to do so. I will be fine.
Maybe he shouldn't aim to go back home, not when he doesn't know if Steven or Hythlodaeus are still there, but. Going to work, or staying in public, neither are better choices. Little would he burden anyone else with this matter, and that aside, what allies and friends he's made have all decided to rely on him. He could go to Dirk's, but he likewise does not want to burden him with this.
Foolish, perhaps, when one might argue Dirk is who should be there for him over such matters, yet Solus is ever the sort to bear his burdens alone. A lifelong habit that he's not likely to break any time soon, if he can help it.
no subject
Perhaps he stood too quickly. Perhaps standing at all after such an emotional ride, while being decently inebriated, was a mistake. Regardless, after a moment or two, he lowers his hand, shakes his head, and presses on. There isn't much to say as they walk, not that it'd be easy to regardless seeing as signing while walking certainly seems like a waste of time.
Idly, he wonders Tyler's thoughts regarding him over such a display. After what he told him, but his mind is easily enough sidetracked from such pondering. Particularly when he has to focus on things like walking and balance. Both of which he's doing fairly well with, despite his state of being. Regardless, it's rather easy to let one's mind wander.
He just looks utterly distracted as they walk and tired. The usual heavy slouch to his walk seems worse somehow. It probably is.
no subject
He's still not quite sure what to make of it all. It's certainly not enough to swing the tide over to liking him, but with such a dedicated impression Solus had been wanting to leave earlier, he's fairly certain that now - knowing all of this, hearing his grief, and yet not feeling that fundamental shift of perspective, like how he did when he learned Solus was tempered - he's pretty sure that's not going to change. Now or ever.
Tyler doesn't think less of him, seeing him at his lowest. Probably Solus would enjoy the irony of it somewhere along the line.
If Solus chooses to stop, Tyler will pause as well - in case the man goes and vomits or something. But he's ultimately just here to guard, not lead.
no subject
Slowly, he turns to look at Tyler, his eyes squinting a little as he seems to be examining him for a moment. Or, perhaps he looks conflicted, honestly it's hard to tell what he's feeling or thinking. But the weird moment doesn't last overly long, before he signs.
I believe it goes without saying I would be most appreciative if this stayed between us.
It will be bad enough dealing with whatever Steven makes of the information he shared, after all. Not that he thinks Tyler is one to go around and gossip without reason, but...
I know well you have no loyalty to me, and little do I expect it. So, I suppose I am asking this as a favor—man to man—without pretense or aught of the sort. A mere bid for decency.
Because he cannot expect any from Steven, he hopes that he can except the barest minimum from Tyler.
no subject
It takes him a few long seconds to think of how to reply to it, honestly.
You're right. I don't. He gives a sort of resigned little quirk of a smile. But I don't have any reason to hurt you with it, either. I'm not going to tell anyone, and I wasn't planning on it to begin with.
Though he can begrudgingly understand why Solus would think so, given... well, everything.
no subject
You're a good man.
That, at least, he does mean. He turns to continue on the path once more, but then he jolts like a thought just struck him, and he turns to look at Tyler again.
Ah, I realized you mentioned going back to work, though that is scarce my destination. It most assuredly is along the way, however. If you must needs depart once we arrive, it will not be remiss of you to do so. I will be fine.
Maybe he shouldn't aim to go back home, not when he doesn't know if Steven or Hythlodaeus are still there, but. Going to work, or staying in public, neither are better choices. Little would he burden anyone else with this matter, and that aside, what allies and friends he's made have all decided to rely on him. He could go to Dirk's, but he likewise does not want to burden him with this.
Foolish, perhaps, when one might argue Dirk is who should be there for him over such matters, yet Solus is ever the sort to bear his burdens alone. A lifelong habit that he's not likely to break any time soon, if he can help it.